Search Archives

Matchup Nightmares Coming

May 11th, 2014

What should be a sure thing about the Bucs’ offense is the nausea and vomiting it will induce in opposing defensive coordinators.

How would you try to match up against Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans split wide and a double tight end set of Tim Wright and gargantuan rookie speedster Austin Seferian-Jenkins, with Charles Sims? Doug Martin in the backfield?

Of course, the Bucs will have to pass block and rely on Josh McCown and/or quarterback of the future Mike Glennon, but the skill positions are nasty dangerous.

Pat Kirwan, the former Bucs scout and Jets personnel man, who also coached linebackers in New York under Monte Kiffin, likes the film and speed of Seferian-Jenkins. Kirwan smells what Joe revealed about offensive coordinator Tedford long ago: his fascination with two pass-catching tight ends after his study session in New England. The following is Kirwan’s CBSSports.com pre-draft look at the Bucs’ new second-round pick:

2. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington: The 6-foot-6, 271-pound Jenkins recently ran 4.56 and definitely got the attention of many clubs. He was trained in a pro offense under Steve Sarkisian and there’s plenty of film of him run-blocking. As a receiver he did grab 146 passes and 21 touchdowns in his three seasons. I watched his final three games of 2013 (Oregon State, Washington State, BYU) when he had nine receptions and two touchdowns. I think in the NFL he has a chance to be a complete tight end and his basketball skills are visible on tape. In the right NFL offense — like New England — he could explode in production. I see him as an early second-round pick.

Joe was most pleased to read about the run blocking film. That can’t be discounted, even though it’s more fun to think of the aerial assault from the Bucs’ new giant, high-flying, athletic receiving crew.

Ya feel we need a little more diversity at the wideout postion.maybe heron can be that guy. I think they feel good about the wideouts they have to tell u the truth.’ Evans is a monster I sat in the stands at the bama and was like who in the hell is this savage. He has that it factor.’ I still wonder if we should have grabbed lee out of USC.

Could someone please explain why Mike Evans is such an improvement over Mike Williams? Aren’t they both slower, larger receiver-types? While I am glad such optimism is in the air, I don’t see how this particular move makes the Bucs’ offensive attack qualitatively better.

Man Lou….you must not have been watching much Bucs ball. What is the difference between Evan and Williams REALLY??? I’m not even going to explain it. If you can’t figure that one out on your own…than you don’t deserve to know.

Steve White did a nice analysis and write-up on Lee. His opinion was that the guy shows bad hands. He concludes at the end that Lee is just not neear first-round material, but that he would have value later on — “that’s what the lower rounds are for.” Seems a lot of other scouts and teams shared his opinion.

After studying the tape, White also was low on Ealy (not very good moves) and high on Benjamin (excellent speed AFTER the first few steps). He reviewed Nix, Sam, Sammie, and many others, too. You might enjoy looking up White’s scouting reports.

I’d rather have some of the best weapons in the league and an average line than a great line and average weapons. Sure, having both would be awesome, but in today’s NFL with free agency and the salary cap it’s impossible to have every part of your team be a strength. You have to pick your poison and it’s obvious Lovie, Licht & Tedford wanted nothing to do with a big, slow, aging line and average-at-best offensive weapons. I concur.

Joe’s butt still hurts that MG8 is here and is the future. If the weapons were limited, why did they wait until after the draft to bring in a QB? They had many chances to draft Joe’s “franchise QB” but never did.

There are going to be some very good OL players, that have made their mark in the NFL and are cut for cost/younger players. This next round of free agency is where the Bucs will put the frosting on the cake. New weapons, solid FA’s so far and there are a couple more pieces to come. This really is shaping up as the most dramatic overhaul in Buc’s history. Now it’s up to this great team of coaches to MAKE THIS WORK!!!

Lou… I really can’t believe you are asking this question. For one when mike Williams was out vj was double teamed and sometimes triple teamed and if williams was inter whole year we would have done a little better. But you can’t go and say how is mike Evans an improvement, 1. He is 4 inches taller than Williams, 2. He has a higher vertical leap than Williams and 3 he’s probably less injury prone. So there you just got 3 reasons to make your question look stupid.

The Bucs should probably be a top 10 scoring offense in the red zone. Four guys 6’4 or taller down there should be virtually impossible to stop. Between the 20’s it’s about the speed in space guys but inside the 20s its about the guys who can catch it in traffic. And with Lovie’s D this offense just needs to be in the 10-18 range to make the Bucs a very difficult team to play.

After reading the Tom Jones column in Saturday’s local smear rag The Bitter Times, his take on the Bucs QB situation and lack of drafting a real bona fide field general reads just like the anti Glennon mobs comments here at this site. Widely held opinions are sometimes proven wrong.

Cant wait until Carl Nicks contract and our punters contract are gone. How stupid was M.D to pay those guys that kind of money. Especially the punter. Lot of good that did for the win loss column. I am hoping they take ANOTHER monster at receiver next year as well being that Vjax will probably not stay in Tampa past this season. We’ll see. These next couple months are gonna really suck

The up tempo will favor our OL especially with two mauling TE’s, a pair of huge physical WR’s and the speed of Martin.
We’ve got the size and skill, Tedford needs to mix up the plays and then exploit to soft spots.
This O will has the ability to wear opponents down.

Remember the SF game when Glennon did so well with the no huddle offense. Can you imagine that scenario with our new weapons? And that was the great SF defense. To bad we are not playing in the HOF game.
Go Bucs!

I had an interesting read last night……
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They have a playoff-ready defense, and needed to add offensive talent to balance out the squad. They are awful in the red zone, and needed to add physical talent. Done and done. Wide receiver Mike Evans, tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and running back Charles Sims add explosiveness to a promising offense. They didn’t draft a single defensive player, which says a lot about how confident Lovie Smith is in his group. Plus, we liked the decision to hold onto Mike Glennon. He’s more promising than any quarterback in this class taken after the first round.

My final draft grade on L&L is a B+. That might change as those players take the field. Didn’t like the Sims pick until I saw the highlights. Now I’m all in on him.

Something just told me weeks ago that The Bucs would not draft a QB. I thought they really did like MG and it showed on draft day. Those 2 L&L are tough nuts to crack. Not as tough as Schiano was when trying to figure stuff out, but still pretty damn tough.

I’m just glad I got 2 things right on draft day. Evans and “the Bucs will not draft a QB in this draft”. Considering last season I was entirely wrong about Freeman, and wrong about Schiano as well.

I was also right about Revis, and Mike Williams too. Not patting myself on the back, it just feels good to have a better gauge of this team once again.

all the weapons are awesome and I am really excited for next season until McCown reverts to McCown and Glennon does his best Statue imitation while fumbling, getting sacked and can’t get out of his own way with the grand finale being blowing games in the 4th qtr.

In order to be good in the red zone you must get to the red zone. QB is still a HUGE need.

I love all the shots mob takes at us non-believers in 8 but you will all come around when he wilts in the 4th quarter like last year. This time you wont have all the excuses and made up awards to make for him.

Smith has more upside in his big toe than any qb currently on the roster. Will he be good who knows actually no one knows but we darn sure know that Glennon wilts in the 4th qtr. Make all the excuses you people want. My favorite is the made up Rookie of the year bs…. Since when does every single position get rookie of the year awards. I guess you guys are the same people who feel everyone should get a trophy and they should not keep score in games.

I Love my BUCS! But until they address the qb position it will be a rocky ride. BTW, using the word hater for people who just don’t like glennon’s game is asinine.

@ 1987
I gave an A- due to not needing a RB, but I loved this draft. That’s another thing I haven’t said in awhile. I mean I’ve enjoyed some picks, but haven’t enjoyed an entire draft as I have this one. I was with you on them keeping Glennon as well. I don’t know if he will beat out McCown, but I’d like to see what he can do with actual play calling and legit weapons on the field

Mike…I have not combed over the schedule yet to try and make a prediction. That takes me awhile to get done. Over a couple days span actually. It’s a well thought process for me. Last season I predicted 10-6 so I really have to comb over this one like crazy this season. Take everything inot account and all.

Right now without looking at the schedule. I can see 8-8. That’s a safe bet right now. It might go higher it might go lower for me. I’m excited once again though. So far I can thank L&L for one thing this offseason, and that’s for taking me out of the depressed state I’ve that I carried out of the season and into the offseason. I happy again.

@ tmax
See I don’t use the term haters, because I’m not sold on Glennon. With that being said, you can’t tell me that he had actual weapons last season. I was one of those that said no QB would’ve had a good season with our team last year. You know it’s bad Whalen I could sit there watching the game and call a lot of the plays. Made me sick just watching it! Most of what I read besides JBF or anything in Tampa, says Glennon can be very good. So I’m willing to give the kid a shot. It does seem to me tho IMO that many posters on here just use blind hate. I could be wrong, but I like to look at things from all angles

“As the Tampa Skyline approached the line of scrimmage, The opposing defense dug in, hoping that their secondary would be able to leap these skyscrapers in a single bound! But to no avail. The Skyline was built to live in the stratosphere where no mortal could reach for the gifts put forth by the Quarterback Gods!”
(In my head I picture this in the NFL Films style)

1987, I find myself in the same state right now. I’m actually excited for the season to start. I can’t wait for the final roster! You’re right about L&L being hard to read tho. I still can’t believe no D player was drafted. It tells me Lovie is cooking something we ‘ll all like out there! Lol

you are absolutely right by looking at all angles. I just don’t see the same potential in Glennon others do. If I am wrong so beit, will not be first or last time that happens that all being spewed, I just can’t buy into 8. It’s not personal. If I had a daughter he’d be a good choice lol….

Prediction 1 – Glennon wins the starting QB spot during preseason, prediction 2 – McCown will be a consummate pro and team guy about his demotion, and prediction 3 – we will be getting used to a lot of well thrown back shoulder TD grabs from VJax, Evans, and our TE’s. Sims as a hybrid slot WR/RB could be dangerous too. Can’t wait until camp starts, but please L&L address the O-line a bit more.

Please nicks be healthy I bet our season depends on two things this year. Oline and qb play. If we can run block consistantly and stay healthy we have a shot I see McCown having a good year with these giants and Herron will be our slot guy

great height for the red zone, but if glennon is qb, how will we get there?

also, mgm said glennon was better than a rookie because he had nfl experience, and yet that doesn’t apply to the receivers? williams is better than evans because evans hasn’t played an nfl game. you guys are silly.

Lou. Says“Could someone please explain why Mike Evans is such an improvement over Mike Williams? Aren’t they both slower, larger receiver-types? While I am glad such optimism is in the air, I don’t see how this particular move makes the Bucs’ offensive attack qualitatively better.”

I’m a Mike Williams fan.

That said, I DO believe Evans will be leaps and bounds better than Williams. I know everyone was yelling that we needed speed. That’s really not what was needed. What we needed was WRs that would actually fight for the ball and make catches.

Speed does zero good if they don’t catch the ball.

MeShawn? Not fast but caught the ball. Keenan? Same. Ike Hilliard? Mr. Reliable on catching the ball. JJ? Same. Go down the list.

You don’t want them slow as molasses but you don’t have to have blinding speed either.

We needed tall WRs on the outside because they have better reach, which is what a young QB needs.

I can see us keeping 4 or 5 tight ends and no fullbacks on the roster we are very deep at tight end and that’s something that was a very underrated need going into the offseason, we haven’t had this kind of depth since dare i say Jeremy Stevens k2 combo, which wasn’t that great, but now we are stocked there, great offseason so far L&L , now let’s translate that into wins!

trading williams pigeonholed us into taking a receiver. you may argue about evans being better, but he has yet to take a snap. you all can’t have it both ways saying glennon is better because of experience but williams isn’t. hell, stevie johnson was traded for a 4th and people on here wanted him.

How can anyone issue instantaneous draft grades? The is something that will take time to review. What if you passed on Johnny Foitball and find out he was a superstar…and the world remembers you for having an opportunity at picking acquiring him at 7 overall and instead…you selected his wide receiver!?

I’ve learned to treat Buccaneer coaches and GM’s with skepticism and hold their drafts at arms length until they prove something.

Lovie hasn’t proven anything more than being able to build a middling success…kinda won as many games as Gruden, went to as many playoffs as Gruden, and lost his only Super Bowl.

He drafted terrible QB’s, and he brought in awful free agent QB’s, he was stubborn and intractible – and like his mentor – he was fired for it.

Guess what…he’s still going to “get by” on offense, and win with defense (a defense he inherited).

It’s almost funny watching the mind-numbed “fans” come full circle.

This was a no surprise, no risk, offensive draft. Those usually result in unsurprising, no risk offenses.

Giving a positive assessment at this point is about as practical as putting lipstick on a pig!

As usual, negative on Glennon. Seems the only folks that don’t like him are the local media. With all possible disrespect, a negative vote from Jones and the rest of the local yahoos is a positive to me.

Just to get it straight, because public perception seems to matter so much with NFL viewers… Austin Sefarian-Jenkins was officially measured at 6054- which is 6’5.5″at the Combine and therefore should be listed, if listed accurately, as 6’6″… plus is sounds more impressive.

On another note, last year, Mike Glennon measured in officially at 6071, or 6′ 7 and 1/8 and yet he’s listed at 6’6.

…which may (or may not) be a positive for the Glennon jock-strappers – as the list of successful QB’s over 6′ 5″ is very, very (very) short.. And when you add in that you’re 6′ 7″ but have to hold a ham sandwich to make 200 lbs (when soaking wet)…the list is even shorter.

We went 4-12 last year, but lost 4 games by a combined 9 points. I can pretty much guarantee that the upgrades we drafted for offense will gain us at least those 9 points. That brings us to an 8-8 record. Add to it that our defense will be properly coached this year, and we should easily pick up another 2 wins. If every thing works the way it should, 10-6 or greater is a definite possibility.